The 2024 NFL season showed us a lot of great quarterback play. Many veteran guys made their mark, and the rookie QBs weren’t far behind, either. While some signal callers had a tremendous year, some struggled to find any significant time on the field.
Here are five quarterbacks whose careers are over in 2025 and five who still have something left to prove.
Which quarterbacks still have a chance to stay in the NFL, and which ones need to retire?
Career Over: Aaron Rodgers
After tearing his Achilles and struggling through a forgettable 2024 return, it’s clear Rodgers just doesn’t have it anymore. He pleaded with the Jets to keep him, but they’re moving on. The arm isn’t what it was, the mobility is gone, and the magic has fizzled. Rodgers might not have filed official retirement papers, but his era is over. Jets fans were promised a Super Bowl run. What they got was a four-play cameo and a fading legend grasping for one more shot that isn’t coming.
Still Has Life: Sam Darnold
From seeing ghosts in New York to haunting defenses in Minnesota, Sam Darnold has done the unthinkable: saved his career. After bouncing around as a backup quarterback, he exploded in 2024 with a 35-touchdown season and led the Vikings to a 14-3 record. He looked confident, composed, and, for the first time, in total control. At 27, he’s still young enough to build a future, and now he has a system and team that believe in him. The comeback is real.
Career Over: Joe Flacco
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Flacco gave us one last spark in 2023 with the Browns, but let’s be honest, that was the final flicker. Now 40, he spent 2024 backing up Anthony Richardson in Indy without making much noise. His Super Bowl MVP resume buys him a little grace, but there’s no juice left in the arm, and no team is looking to bring him in to start. It was fun to watch him make one final stand, but Flacco’s career as an NFL quarterback is officially in the rearview. He had a great ride, but it’s over.
Still Has Life: Baker Mayfield
Baker’s NFL journey has been a wild ride, but he’s back in the driver’s seat. Tampa Bay took a chance on him, and he delivered a division title. He cut the turnovers, led with energy, and kept the Bucs competitive. The former No. 1 pick finally found the balance between chaos and control. He may not be elite, but he’s steady, sharp, and still starting. Mayfield isn’t going anywhere yet.
Career Over: Carson Wentz
Wentz got one more shot in Kansas City, and it didn’t go well. His Week 18 start was supposed to be a soft landing. Instead, he faceplanted, completing barely half his passes and getting shut out. Teams around the league saw enough. He hasn’t looked like an NFL-caliber quarterback starter in years, and even backup gigs are drying up. Once the face of Philly, Wentz now can’t even sniff a meaningful snap. His fall from grace is complete.
Still Has Life: Geno Smith
Geno’s glow-up might be the most satisfying redemption arc in the NFL. Once labeled a bust, he found his stride in Seattle and hasn’t looked back. In 2024, he ranked near the top in passing yards and completions, proving his 2022 breakout wasn’t a fluke. At 34, he’s still making plays, managing games, and keeping the Seahawks in contention. Geno has life, swagger, and more good football left in him.
Career Over: Ryan Tannehill
Once the savior of Tennessee’s offense, Tannehill has been quietly phased out. He didn’t take a single snap in 2024, and teams don’t seem interested in anything beyond a mentor role. The arm is fading, the legs don’t scare anyone, and the market is cold. A respectable career that peaked with a surprise playoff run, but the league has clearly moved on. His starting days as a quarterback are behind him, and his name is barely mentioned anymore.
Still Has Life: Jared Goff
Traded to Detroit and written off, Goff has flipped the script. He’s now the face of a legitimate contender. In 2024, he threw for 4,600+ yards and 37 touchdowns, guiding the Lions to a 15-2 record and the NFC’s top seed. He’s gone from “system QB” to trusted leader. Still just 30, Goff is in his prime and playing the best ball of his career. He’s not just alive, he’s thriving.
Career Over: Zach Wilson
A 25-year-old shouldn’t be on this list, but here we are. Wilson’s career has flatlined. After flaming out with the Jets, he got buried on Denver’s depth chart and then passed around the league as a reclamation project with zero results. He’s now holding a clipboard in Miami, but no team sees him as a starting quarterback. His confidence is shot, his reads are late, and his tape is ugly. Wilson isn’t developing; he’s just fading. The dream is over.
Still Has Life: Russell Wilson
Remember when everyone said Russ was washed? That narrative didn’t last long in Pittsburgh. He got a second chance with Mike Tomlin and made the most of it, putting together efficient performances and even dropping a 400-yard game midseason. He looks sharper, smarter, and reenergized. At 36, he’s no longer the Seattle scrambler, but he’s proving he can still win, and he’s got the Steelers believing again.
